REPORTS AND MINISTERIAL MOTIONS. - INCREASE OF RENT.
The SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS moved the adoption of a decree limiting increases in rent as follows:—
"IT IS HEREBY DECREED:—
1. "That no landlord of any dwell inghouse shall compel a tenant to quit his holding or terminate or refuse to renew the tenancy of any tenant if the tenant shall pay a reasonable increase of rent.
2. "A ‘reasonable increase of rent' shall mean:
(a) An amount calculated at the rate of 6 per cent per annum on the expenditure on the improvement or structural alteration of the dwellinghouse (not including expenditure on decoration or repairs).
(b) "And in addition any increase in the amount payable by the landlord in respect of rates over the rates paid in respect of the corresponding period which included the 3rd August, 1914.
3. "That pending further legislation the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, with the approval of the Ministry, be empowered to make such Regulations as the Ministry shall deem fit to carry out the provisions of this decree.
4. "This decree shall be deemed to have come into operation as from the 1st July, 1920."
The SECRETARY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT formally seconded the motion.
M. STAINES (St. Michan's, Dublin) stated that the English Act was unjust to the tenants and that the proposed decree was unjust to the landlords. There had been very little done in the way of structural alterations during the war, and there was practically no increase possible under this head. The cost of repairs had increased about 400 per cent. since 1914, and there was no provision in the decree for an increase of rent to meet this. The landlord should also be allowed the difference between the mortgage rate of interest prevailing now and that in force in 1914.
He suggested as an amendment to the proposed decree that a new clause be added granting an increase of 20 per cent. on the amount of the net rent on 3rd August, 1914.
The SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS declined to accept the amendment, and after further discussion it was agreed, on the motion of T. MACSUIBHNE (Cork Mid.), seconded by J. DOLAN (Leitrim) that the question be referred to a Committee consisting of Messrs. Staines. MacDonagh, Dolan, MacGrath, and Duggan, to report in the course of the Session.